Thousands attend first Mogadishu night-time football match in decades

Mogadishu, Somalia | AFP | Several thousand fans on Friday watched the first night-time football match to be played in Mogadishu since chaos descended on the Somali capital nearly three decades ago, raucously backing their respective teams in what the mayor called a “historic” event.

The match — the final of a city-wide club tournament for 16- to 18-year-olds — took place at the Konis Stadium, which has been renovated by FIFA.

It was broadcast live on several television channels but took place under tight security because of the threat posed by the Shabaab Islamist group.

“Tonight is a historic night which people waited for more than 30 years. I tell you that Mogadishu is secure and people deserve more than this,” Mayor Tabit Abdi Mohamed said after the match, which saw Waberi beat Hodon 3-0.

“There are thousands and thousands of people who are out here tonight to watch this football game. We will continue making history.”

Omar Ibrahim Abdisalam, a spokesman for the Somali Football Federation, said the last night game in Mogadishu had been staged back in 1988.

Electrifying night in Mogadishu. For the first time since the late 80’s, the capital is hosting a soccer match at night. Proud of this city! pic.twitter.com/GVcjmmekg7